ALL systems go for the opening salvo of the 2010 Villa Valderama 9-Aside Football Tournament at the Villa Valderama football pitch on Sunday.

Las Buenas Football Club takes on Real Negrense FC on an opener at 1:30 followed by Ceres Transport-Tri Maxi Agro match at 2:50 and Talisay Minuluan FC against the Dynamic Builders Construction Co. for the main event.

Tournament manager Ramon Janeo disclosed that five teams have already completed their line-ups.

SRFC Arsenal finished at the top of the division with six points from an undefeated record of six wins.

However, SRFC-Arsenal failed in its bid for a title shot after being stunned by Hiroshi FC, 4-0, in the semifinal round.

In the Men’s League, the University of San Carlos (USC) routed the University of Cebu, 4-0.

African Bernard Rotich led the team with two goals, while ace striker Kyle Soriano and Pomposo Atillo added a goal each.

The match between the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) and the University of the Visayas ended in a scoreless draw, while the game between Queen City United (QCU) and top-seeded Crazy Horse also ended in a deadlock, 3-all.

Crazy Horse still leads the Men’s League with 17 points followed by QCU with 16. USC is currently at third with 15 points.

Meanwhile, University of San Jose-Recoletos will play the 53rd Army in the championship match of the Men’s Open category, while Xantos FC and DB Magone FC will be battling for third place this Sunday at the Aboitiz sports field.

In the Men’s League, SRFC will play UV; Crazy Horse will play USPF; Don Bosco Alumni faces USC; and SRRU will take on UC.

FOLLOWING the successful inaugural Philippine-Malaysia Veteran Soccer Tournament last year in Bacolod City, another match between the two countries is set to kick-off Thursday at Panaad Stadium football pitch.

The Bacolod-based Bacolod United Football Club (BUFC) represented by erstwhile RP national team standouts will take on the visiting International Football Club of Malaysia at the main event tonight at 6 p.m.

The Davao squad earlier edged Don Marcelino of Davao del Sur, 1-0, in the shootout following a 1-1 standoff while Celestial FC defeated Catalunan Grande, 1-0, in the semifinals.

Holy Child's Irene Buenaflor, the only girl in the team, was named most valuable player (MVP), while Julius Gregory Ponpon received the best in skills award. Vincent Sedentario took the best defender honors even as Alfredo Panuela got the best goalkeeper title.

The champion team was also bannered by John Howell Calud, Paolo Enero, Rachy Sobrepeña, Jan Nico Agustin, and Cloyd de la Cruz with coaches Danny Boy Fernandez and Alvic Troyo.

Davao Football Association (DFA) general secretary Erwin Protacio said the trip of Davao teams to Bukidnon was organized by the University of the Philippines (UP) Mindanao in partnership with Barangay Mintal. (MLSA)

THE Lady Knights and University of the Philippines (UP) Mindanao Varsity kept their unbeaten slates by whipping their opponents in the resumption of the Acosta Cup 2010 20/20 9v9 Football Tournament at the Tionko football grounds on Saturday.

The Lady Knights blanked Philippine Women's College (PWC), 3-0, on the fine performance of Lomalyn Fama, who hit goals in the second and 18th minutes. Celina Jaldon scored in the ninth.

In another game, the UP Varsity also hacked out a 3-0 win over UP Alumnae FC with Ellen Cuizon blasting goals in the 10th and 38th while Joannah Marie Angeles added a goal in the 30th.

The Lady Knights and UP Varsity shared the lead of the team standings with identical two-win, no-draw, no-lass record followed by Medvil Black (1-0-0), Holy Child (0-0-1), Medvil Blue (0-0-1), PWC (0-0-1) and UP Alumni FC (0-0-2).

25 January 2010

Baguio United Football Club, Inc. (BUFC) announces the Melvin Jones Soccer Invitationals. It is an 11-a-side tournament on February 6-7, for the following categories: Men’s Open, 14 and under and 11 and under. Men’s Open is on February 6, 1pm to February 7. Age groups will begin on February 6, 2010 8 am.

We are targeting 8-teams on a single round robin 25-minute straight (no half time) elimination round. Fee is PhP 1,000.00 for Men’s Open and PhP 500.00 for age group.

We will be sending complete tournament rules and regulation upon request.

If interested, please confirm your participation as soon as possible. Preference will be given to those who pay the entrance fees on afirst-come first-serve basis. Send your e-mails to baguiounited@gmail.com.

This is a recreational tournament we’re organizing just to promote soccer in Baguio. We are gearing for a bigger and grander 16-teamtournament in May 2010.

Rookie Christian de Juan knocked in two goals as the University of Santo Tomas stunned defending champion University of the Philippines, 2-1, Sunday in the 72nd UAAP men’s football tournament at the Ateneo field.

De Juan scored the game’s last two goals, tying the game in the 61st minute and kicking in the go-ahead goal in the 73rd minute to power UST to the solo leadership with three victories.

Andrei Mercader earlier put UP on top, 1-0, with a goal in the 48th minute but that was not enough as the Fighting Maroons took their first loss after two straight wins.

Far Eastern University, meanwhile, grabbed its second win after beating University of the East, 3-1, in the first game.

Jason Cordova gave the Tamaraws the early lead in the fourth minute but the Red Warriors tied the game three minutes later on Fitch Arboleda’s goal.

FEU’s Glester Sobremisana then scored the marginal goals during the 11th and 33rd minutes to seal the win, the Tamaraws’ second in three matches. - GMANews.TV

24 January 2010

For two straight weekends, De La Salle Zobel becomes the hub of age-group soccer with the holding of the 7th DLSZ Football Fiesta which kicked off Saturday at its school campus inside Ayala Alabang Village in Muntinlupa City.

Armold Andaya, chair of the organizing DLSZ PA-Sports Development Foundation, said that over 90 teams in Metro Manila and nearby provinces are seeing action in the four-day soccerfest sponsored by Toyota Motor Phils. Muntinlupa City Mayor Aldin San Pedro, Intermed, Gatorade, Unilever and Hershey Phils.

On tap are contests in the seven and nine-year-old unisex divisions, boys’ 11, 13 and year-old divisions, girls’ 14 and 15-year-old divisions, ladies and men’s Open championships.

Andaya added that the tournament also has the full support of DLSZ president, Bro. Dennis Magbanua, and Sports Development Office head Guido Diestro, who is a co-organizer of the seven-a-side football competitions.

23 January 2010

Reigning champion University of the Philippines and unbeaten University of Santo Tomas face off in Sunday’s UAAP men’s football action at the Erenchun field in Ateneo campus.

State U, which scored wins against University of the East (2-0) and host Ateneo (2-0), and Santo Tomas U take the field in the 1 p.m. second game with the winner taking the early lead in this edition of the annual tournament.

UE, winless after two matches, clashes with Far Eastern University (1-1) in the 10 a.m. opening match.

"Every game goes tougher and wilder," said UP mentor Frank Muescam, who expects Ghanaian player Ayi Nii Aryee to step up anew after a remarkable debut last Wednesday. “I’m hoping we sustain our run because every team wants to beat us."

UST, in a tie with UP on top at 2-0, is expected to rely on strikers Christian De Juan and Mark Clarino.

Host Ateneo (1-1) aims for its second win when it battles La Salle (0-2) in the 3 p.m. closing match.

Defending women’s champion UST nailed its second win after a 2-1 decision against Ateneo behind the goals by Nikki Regalado (7th minute) and Marianne Narciso (17th minute) to stay on top.

FEU settled for a scoreless draw against La Salle in the other match. – GMANews.TV

Defending champion University of the Philippines beat Ateneo, 2-0, to grab its second win in the 72nd UAAP men’s football tournament Thursday at the Ateneo field.

Deo Segunial opened the scoring with a goal in injury time before Ghanaian player Ayi Nii Aryee made booted one more in the 88th minute to seal the win for the Fighting Maroons.

Ayi made his debut after finally being allowed to play for completing his alien residential certificate. Ayi made the news four years ago after he was stranded in the Diosdado Macapagal Airport for seven months as he was supposed to try out for a Singaporean team but was victimized by a dubious agent.

UP coach Frank Muescam also credited the Fighting Maroons’ defense as they contained Ateneo’s strikers.

The loss dropped the Blue Eagles to their first loss after winning their opening game against Far Eastern University.

University of Santo Tomas, meanwhile, also took its second win after a 2-0 decision against University of the East.

Christian de Juan scored in the fourth minute while Mark Clarino followed in the 83rd.

FEU got its first victory beating La Salle, 1-0.

Dexter Chio had an early goal in the fourth minute to barge in the win column after that loss to the Blue Eagles.

A TOTAL of 36 squads will come out in the field Saturday as the EVFC-Talisay City Ladies Invitational Football League opens at Carlos Hilado Memorial State College-Talisay football pitch.

Set January 23 & 30 and February 13 & 20, 2010, the event will be brawled in three categories: 14 and under, 18 and under and the Open Ladies.

Warren Concepcion, tournament general coordinator, said among the teams expected to suit up in the tournament are the Kabankalan City Football Club, Celta Victorias Football Club, Cadiz City Football Club, San Carlos City Football Club, Talisay South Elementary School, Talisay Elementary School, Efeginio Lizares Elementary School, Carlos Hilado Memorial State College-Talisay and host-Talisay Minuluan Football Club.

Also joining are teams from Bacolod led by co-host executive Village Football Club, La Consolacion-Gardenville, St. Benilde School, University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos, Rizal Elementary School, Andres Bonifacio Elementary School II, Bata Elementary School, Mabini Elementary School, Domingo Lacson National High School, St. John's Institute Football Club, Bacolod City National High School and Luis Hervias National High School.

Concepcion further added that the event is a joint program of the City Government of Talisay headed by Mayor Eric Saratan and EVFC president Lizares Jr.

THIS year’s edition of the Thirsty Football Cup looks bigger as more than 200 teams—local and from out of town—are expected to compete in Cebu City’s biggest annual football festival on Feb. 5 to 7 at the Cebu City Sports Center football grounds.

Last year, the festival generated a record-breaking 226 football squads in 14 different divisions.

As of now, the tournament is close to breaking that record as 224 teams have signed up for the mammoth football event.

Although only 118 teams have confirmed their participation. The number is expected to bloat as the playdate nears when the teams outside Cebu City will start arriving.

The number of visiting teams this year has skyrocketed. More than 40 teams from Dumaguete, Bacolod, Cagayan De Oro, Leyte, Butuan, Masbate, Iligan and Negros signed up.

Last year attracted only 30 visiting squads.

The football event will retain the same 14 divisions as last year’s—Players 6, Players 8, Players 10, Boys 12, Girls 12, Boys 14, Girls 14, Boys 17, Girls 17, Boys 19, Ladies Open, 36-and-above, 40-and-above and the prestigious Men’s Open, which currently has the most teams with 41.

THE Davao City National High School (DCNHS) football team is on the rise again.

After 14 years of fruitless campaign, the DCNHS finally made its presence felt by finishing a strong third in the Mayor Rody R. Duterte-Vice Mayor Inday Sara Duterte and Holcim Philippines Inter-High School Football Tournament, which culminated last January 9 at the Tionko grounds.

DCHNS, supported by Columbia Computer Center, made it a double celebration after the team's captain, Rocky Custodio, was named best striker in the tournament. Custodio finished the league with 13 goals.

DCNHS Columbia, coached by Reynalyn Ranada-Ravanes with Hersy Salmon, won third place honors after beating Holy Child School of Davao, 2-0, with Custodio and Gerard Bicañesa scoring the goals for the team.

THIRTY-six teams are scheduled to brawl in the forthcoming Executive Village Football Club (EVFC)-Talisay City Ladies Invitational Football League set on January 23 and 30, and February 13 and 20, 2010 at Carlos Hilado Memorial State College-Talisay football pitch.

According to Warren Concepcion, the tournament General Coordinator that the event will be in three categories: 14 and under, 18 and under and the Open Ladies.

Among the teams expected to suit up in the tournament are the Kabankalan City Football Club, Celta Victorias Football Club, Cadiz City Football Club, San Carlos City Football Club, Talisay South Elementary School, Talisay Elementary School, Efeginio Lizares Elementary School, Carlos Hilado Memorial State College-Talisay and host-Talisay Minuluan Football Club.

Also joining are the teams from Bacolod led by co-host executive Village Football Club, La Consolacion-Gardenville, St. Benilde School, University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos, Rizal Elementary School, Andres Bonifacio Elementary School II, Bata Elementary School, Mabini Elementary School, Domingo Lacson National High School, St. John's Institute Football Club, Bacolod City National High School and Luiz Hervias National High School.

Concepcion further added that the event is a joint program of the city government of Talisay headed by Mayor Eric Saratan and EVFC president Lizares Jr.

UNIVERSITY of the Philippines (UP) scored a goal in each half to beat University of the East (UE) in the 72nd University Athletic Association of the Philippines football tournament on Sunday at the Ateneo’s Erenchun Field.

The Fighting Maroons took control with an Andre Mercader goal in the 38th minute. Jay Romulo Eusebio also scored in the 68th minute to complete the victory by the defending champions.

UP still can’t field Ayi Nii Aryee, a player from Ghana, because of eligibility issues. Four years ago, Ayi was stranded at Clark’s Diosdado Macapagal Airport for seven months because of visa problems in Singapore, where he was contracted to try out for a Singaporean team before his agent deserted him. He eventually returned to Ghana after he got help from a local football team and later tried out with the Maroons.

Gregorio Cancio’s header in the 83rd minute lifted Ateneo over FEU in the other match.

In junior’s action, Jeremy Michael Mabanag scored four goals as Ateneo shut out University of Santo Tomas. Mabanag scored in the 31st and added three more in the second half.

FEU defeated La Salle Zobel, 2-0, with Alandel Donekyas scoring in the 36th and Nasilin Mandjini in the 80th.

Philippines played second friendly today against Taipei Physical Education College . This team is one of the best teams in Taiwan and have many NT players. Match started 6 pm local time and is finished now.

No result is known yet. Please post result if anybody know.

It is expected that mostly RP NT reserves who did not play yesterday and subs will be playing today.

13 January 2010

MANILA, Philippines - Ateneo will host the 72nd University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s, women’s and junior football events from Jan. 17 to Feb. 28 at the Ateneo football fields in Katipunan, Quezon City.

Ateneo offficial Ricky Palou said that three men’s games, two women’s contests and two junior matches will highlight opening day action.

Reigning men’s champion University of the Philippines, which snapped its seven-year title drought last season, starts its title-retention bid when it battles University of the East in first game at 9:30 a.m. at the Erenchun Field.

Host Ateneo meets Far Eastern University in the second game at 1 p.m. and La Salle faces University of Santo Tomas at 3 p.m.

In the women’s side at the Ocampo field, La Salle meets UP at 1 p.m., followed by the 3 p.m. game between Ateneo and FEU. Defending champion UST drew a bye.

In the junior’s play on the same field, host and reigning champion Ateneo takes on UST at 7:30 a.m., followed by the 9:30 a.m. game between La Salle-Zobel and FEU. The junior football event will now be played as regular UAAP sport.

EMAR Learning Center blanked Ateneo de Davao University, 3 - 0, to clinch the 5th Mayor Rody and Inday Sara Duterte-Holcim Philippines Inter High-School Football Tournament crown Saturday at the Tionko Football Field.Playing tough at all times, Emar exploded down the stretch scoring goals one after the other en route to its fifth straight title.Frances Jay Abrasaldo scored Emar’s first goal in the 37th minute that set the pace of the game for the Matina-based booter’s favor.Abrasaldo’s goal came after numerous offensive attack changes in the early going of the match witnessed by some officials of Holcim Phils.Bal Angelo scored another goal in the 78th minute and Jomar Acedo, who was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) scored another one three minutes later to seal the victory.

Ateneo battled hard but just could not keep pace with the much-quicker Emar booters who outplayed the Ateneans at all front.Davao City National High School Columbia defeated Holy Child School of Davao Red, 2 — 0, to cop the third place honor with Rocky Custodio and Gerad Bicañesa scoring goals that keyed the win.Holcim, Phils. Mining, CHR & Admin Manager Engr. Cilor P. Guevarra awarded cash prizes and medals to the winners.

"WE are pleased to invite Men's and Women's football teams to participate in the "MArikina City Football Fiesta" which will be held in Marikina Sports Park on January 23,2010(women's and men's 3rd division) for more details please email or text 09228581011/mcfatournaments@gmail.com"

07 January 2010

MANILA, Philippines—Crack Filipino-British players Chris Greatwich, Chad Gould and Rob Gier have been recalled to the national football team for the upcoming Taiwan-Philippines Inter-Port Friendship Cup in Kaoshiung, Taiwan, from Jan. 14 to 18.

The trio will join mainstays Emelio Caligdong, Ian Araneta, Aly Borromeo and Anton del Rosario as well as collegiate aces Roxy Dorlas of San Beda and Jovanie Simpron of Far Eastern in the squad that will be handled for the first time by Briton Desmond Bulpin.

The squad, however, will miss key players in Fulham goalkeeper Neil Etheridge and Simon Greatwich, who are sidelined by injuries.

Also included in the national squad, which will also see action in the Asean Football Championships in October, are brothers Gerard and Jerome Orcullo and newcomers Manuel Ott and goalkeeper Paolo Pascual.

The interport marks the first time the team will play since April last year, when they missed out on a berth in the 2010 AFC Challenge Cup after losing three of their four matches in a qualifier in the Maldives.

05 January 2010

THE Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) routed the Davao City National High School (DCNHS) Columbia, 8-2, to book a finals berth in the fifth Mayor Rody-Vice Mayor Inday Sara & Holcim Philippines Inter-High School Football Tournament.

With the victory, Ateneo arranged a championship showdown with the Emar Learning Center, which blanked Holy Child Red, 9-0.

Derrico Gabriel Diamante sizzled with four goals, scoring in the 30th, 57th, 61st and 77th minutes while teammate John Ryven Lumabao converted two goals -- in the fifth and 54th. Patrick Francis Lim (18') and David Angelo Diamante (71') added one goal each to complete the rout.

Raymart Palabrica and Rocky Custodio scored in the 37' and 63', respectively, for DCNHS.

Emar, meanwhile, relied on Jomar Acedo and Alexis Dayondon, who combined for seven goals in their semifinals match.

Acedo scored in the 23', 43', 50' and 65'while Dayondon struck for goals in the 39', 58' and 74'. Imardino Polo (74') and Renz Rhey Napuran (29') pitched in one goal apiece.

The Ateneo-Emar finals clash is set on Sunday at 4 p.m. following the 2 p.m. battle for third between DCNHS Columbia and Holy Child Red.

The tournament is presented by Mayor Rodrigo and Vice Mayor Inday Sara Duterte in coordination with the Sports Development Division of the City Mayor's Office (SDD-CMO).

04 January 2010

BRITISH football mentor Desmond Bulpin will make his coaching debut for the Philippine national team during the Philippine-Taiwan Inter-Port Friendship Cup in Kaoshiung, Taiwan late this month.

Having served in various capacities in English clubs, hopes are high that the 58-year-old Bulpin could turn the fortunes around of the national squad, which has failed to qualify in its last two international tournaments.

“It’s a massive challenge, but we have to get on with it,” Bulpin recently said.

Bulpin will get his baptism of fire in the four-day tournament where the Filipinos will go up against the Chinese-Taipei national team on Jan. 16 and a club team from Kaoshiung on Jan. 18.

Bulpin has worked for Premiere League team Tottenham Hotspur, where he served as youth team coach and discovered current England international strikers Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe. He also had managerial stints in Singapore and Uzbekistan.

He vows to turn the nationals into an “organized team that pressures other teams, plays a high tempo and moves the ball quickly.”